Is 'Avengers' a box office bully that's hurting Hollywood?

"The Avengers" has made more than $1.1 billion (yep, with a "B") worldwide so far and shows no sign of slowing, especially with weak box office competition like "Battleship" and "Dark Shadows. (Disney)

As Marvel's "The Avengers" continues to obliterate its feeble box office competition, some wonder whether it's dominating performance is hurting more than helping Hollywood.

The Marvel blockbuster has already cleared $1.1 billion worldwide and is sitting pretty with a $463 domestic gross. People keep coming back for more Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Capt. America. Can you blame them? The movie rocks.

Thankfully, they finally acknowledge that these films' weak box office results might have more to do with the fact that they aren't, in fact, very good movies.

"Battleship" and "Dark Shadows" in particular were unusual
concepts that were poorly marketed (and ill-conceived), so audiences
had little choice other than to catch a proven commodity like "The Avengers" again.

Box office monsters like this are not automatic kryptonite for every other release with any hope of making some cash. The Broadway musical adaptation "Mamma Mia," released on the same day as "The Dark Knight" (July 18, 2008) is a good example of well-marketed counter-programming that went
toe-to-toe with an unstoppable force.

That film did a solid $144 million domestic gross (with minimal
week-to-week drop-offs) while "The Dark Knight" broke records. Even the R-rated Will Ferrell comedy "Step
Brothers" opening in "The Dark Knight's" third week managed $30 million and ended up clearing $100 million domestically.

So no, "The Avengers" isn't a bully. It's just a better movie than those others. More importantly, it's been a better option for moviegoers during those respective weekends, even if it means a second or third time seeing it.

As the Reuters article points out, the success of movies like "The Avengers" and "The Hunger Games" has had a positive effect on box office grosses in the U.S., with domestic grosses up 14 percent through last weekend to over $4 billion in 2012.

Hollywood better quit whining, take a few notes from quality blockbusters like "The Avengers" and "The Hunger Games" and bring the pain when it comes time for the showdown. Otherwise, keep some tissue handy.